Airplane



Aug. 21, 1923., 1,465,868

' J. S. SABEY AIRPLANE Filed Oct. 10. 1921 l I v XIX;

INVENTOR.

Patented Aug, El, @230 UNlTElD) STTES ltdt JOHN SAMUEL SABEY, F PAIA, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

AIRPLANE.

Application filed October 10, 1921. Serial N0. 506,768.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN SAMUEL SABEY, ,a citizen of the United States, and resident of Paia, Maui, Territory of Hawaii, have invented 'a new and useful Airplane, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to airplanes and its principal object is to provide an airplane that is supported in the air and uses the water as a means for propulsion; an-

other object of the invention is to provide an airplane that will be superior to any means of aerial transportation used at the present time in efliciency, speed, economy,

safety and endurance, as will be shown in the description of the same. I

In the accompanying drawing, ll show a preferred embodiment of the principles involved in my invention, but I wish to have it understood that the idea involved is of a basic character and can be carried out in many difierent ways Without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the drawing Figure 1 represents a plan view of my airplane, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a front elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawing in particular, it will be noted that aside from the propeller my air lane (1) does not diiler essentially from t e common airplane now in general use. It is shown in the drawing as being a biplane having the body (2) the two planes (3), the rudder (a the elevators (6), the radiator (7), struts (8) for the planes and the usual contrr apparatus not shown in the drawing. No particular importance is attached to the particular type of the airplane usod, and a monoplane, or .a triplane or an airplane with a larger number of planes may prove superior for my purposes to the biplane.

The essential part of my invention is the propeller (11) which is not arranged to rely on the air for a reacting means as in the present day tractor or pusher airplanes, but underneath the body, its purpose being to engage the water instead of the air as a propelling means. lhe particular shape of the propeller is of no importance, the essence of my invention being a propeller secured to the plane in such a manner that certain portions of the blades of the propeller, preterably their tips, engage the surface of the water and use the water as a reacting means. I prefer to carry out this idea by means of the paddle wheel propeller shown in the drawing, the hub (12) of which is secured to the shaft (13) supported in the lower portion of the body of the airplane in any well known manner. A recess (16) is provided in the body conforming to the working radius of the propeller, so that the upper blades of the propeller are received within this recess, while the lower blades come in contact with the water.

Theadvantages of m airplane are apparent. The upper bla es, being hidden in the body of the plane, do not strike the air and thus do not ofier any resistance to the advance of the plane. The lower blades engaging the water take a firm hold of the same, the water ofi'ering a stronger resistance to the blades than the air does and thereby giving increased power to the blades. it will be seen at once that in order to travel a given distance less rotations are needed with my propeller than with a propeller relying on the 'air exclusively for :1

reacting means, whereby fuel is saved and the wear on the motor and transmissions lessened. With the aid of these water propellers the speed can be increased over that of any plane using air propellers, and since my plane travels close to the surface of the water, the element oil danger is largely eliminated.

This preferred embodiment of my air plane, as well as the monoplane, triplane and other types which may be used, may be provided with extra propellers of the usual aeroplane type, their purpose being to assist the plane to a more stable forward motion and, if-necessary, to lift the machine entirely clear of the water, converting it, thereby, into a true aeroplane at will. These auxiliary propellers may function either as tractors or pushers. To illustrate, in the accompanying drawing, the tractor propeller would be most conveniently placed at the forward end of the body (7),. as indicated at 5 in dotted lines, and the pusher would be placed in a position parallel to the rear struts (8) in Figure 2, and between the planesv (3). p

I claim:

An airplane of the character described, comprising a body, air engaging planes for supporting the same, an air engaging pro- 5 peller cooperating with the planes in forwarding the body, a recess in the lower portion of the body, and a paddle wheel su ported by the body so that its upper bla es Leesgsee are received within the recess and its lower blades extend below the bottom line of the body and engage a body of water underneath the airplane, the paddle wheel being disposed substantially midway between the air engaging propeller and the planes.

JUHN SAMUEL SABEY. 

